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● Supervised a politically highly sensitive project which was among the first few projects funded by Obama’s $ 40 B infrastructure stimulus package of 2008. Project became very crucial as it was allotted to a contractor with criminal history, and the whole crew was very less experienced (had to contract out the project to that company because of the reservation limitations). I took over and lead the project after the Senior Engineer who was supposed to lead that project left with in the first quarter of the project as he found it very difficult to manage the contractor and his crew. ● Saved close to $1.5 Million on a highway construction project by coming up with few innovative approaches to deal with unexpected issues raised during the project. ● Developed new data analysis methods which are now followed by our whole project mgmt group.● Among the youngest in the department to receive a professional engineer license and consequently to authorize State projects.● Worked on the Caldecott Tunnel Project ( a $ 420 million project, Nation’s second largest highway project supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 )

From Personal Life:

● the way me, my education, and my career progression stood up as a good example and inspiration for many kids in my village and neighboring villages.● my commitment to make sure that no kid from my village would drop out of school (until at least primary school) due to the lack of financial resources or guidance. Did set up a Fund to fund their primary school education. ● involvement with several child education related activities through CSECC (California State Employees Charitable Campaign), CRY (Child Rights and You), and AID (Aid for India’s Development)

Other:

● Worked on a start up “Biglifeindia”. Idea was to generate superior returns on the investor’s investments by pooling and investing them in growing sectors like infrastructure development, real estate, large-scale agriculture etc, in India. Temporarily suspended the project because of unfavorable political developments and consequent new regulations (Andhra Pradesh Micro Finance Institutions Act, 2010).

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If you are that confident you can raise your GMAT score, you have nothing to lose right? That said, you do come from an overrepresented demographic that scores high on the GMAT, so I’m not sure how much you will be moving the needle.

Your undergraduate GPA translates to a 2.9, which is on the low side, especially for the top programs. However, I think you can mitigate this with your graduate GPAs and high GMAT.

Your work experience seems solid, though as an Indian engineer, there will be many applicants with your type of background. Still, you seem to have solid leadership experience. Definitely play up the times when you have influenced others, driven results, and taken initiative.

Your extracurricular activities could be a differentiator. Starting a fund is not bad, and it seems like you have a variety of involvement with child education causes. That’s a good consistent theme.

Right now, other than your GPA and your tough demographic, another challenge is your post-MBA career goals. I understand the short-term element, but am not seeing the investment management/private equity angle so much. I urge you to paint a more cohesive story that connects your past and present experience to where you want to go. With what I know of your history, the finance angle sort of comes out of right field. Moreover, you should define what an MBA will give you that your graduate certificate in business will not. You must demonstrate that need.

I think Harvard and Wharton would be reaches for you – that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! And, I think if you pulled together the aforementioned elements you could be competitive at the other programs you name.